metirish

Pick up his $11 million option for 2011

A somewhat redundant question but is Reyes the most important player on the team?

Oh it's not even worth reading..... But rebuilding is a dirty word with the Mets. Wilpon's general manager, Omar Minaya, makes the big splash every winter (Pedro Martinez, Johan Santana, Frankie Rodriguez, and now Jason Bay) only to find disappointment by the following October. Minaya's predecessor, Steve Phillips, did the same thing, trying to transition an aging 2000 World Series team on the fly by picking up the washed up Mo Vaughan, Roberto Alomar and Pedro Astacio. Result: four straight seasons finishing third or lower. Both Phillips and Minaya have taken a lot of heat from local fans and press. But who did each work for? Wilpon, under whom the Mets are 639-655 since he wrested full control from former partner Nelson Doubleday in 2002. The club might take note that the Yankees' four-championship, six-pennant run from 1996 to 2003 was preceded by a losing stretch from 1990-92, during which the club rebuilt a talent base that produced Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams, among others. Last year's Yankee championship followed a non-playoff season in 2008. The yankees never waste money on FA players.

Fred Wilpon has an obsession with the MFY's?.......please.

harper of course is on this today....only thing of note is this Putz, in fact, was furious with the Mets, believing that the front office chose not to act on a recommendation by team physician Dr. David Altcheck to have surgery, convincing the reliever instead to get a cortisone shot that would allow him to continue pitching. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/02/02/2010-02-02_putz_hurls_blame_at_met_quacks.html#ixzz0eO5waFIt Not sure if we knew that, it's hard to keep up with this stuff.

A sight for sore eyes that is. I got nervous when he was using the sledgehammer on the big tire , I was thinking it might bounce back on him and break his shin.

Mauer must lack ambition ,can't handle the big city....Harper must be livid.

This would make Pete very happy , Mets HOF would add nicely to his Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame induction from a few years ago.

Great read, well worth the time. One big difference between Cuban and American baseball is that Cuban players must play for the province in which they were born. This creates an imbalance much like the financial imbalance in Major League Baseball. Havana has a lot more people than any other province, and so it tends to havea disproportionate share of the better players. Sports in Ireland is like this, you play for the parish you live in for Inter-County sports and the County you were born in for All-Ireland sports , amateur sports obviously.

Active leader in minor-league home runs, Mike Hessman, signs with New York Mets farm system BY ANTHONY MCCARRON DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Sunday, January 31st 2010, 4:00 AM The active leader in minor-league home runs has heard all the Crash Davis comparisons. He's been asked repeatedly if it's a sore point that he's knocked 311 balls over fences from Macon to Myrtle Beach to Toledo and beyond but has only played 77 games in the majors. But Mike Hessman prefers to view it another way. "To have been around this long, I've been blessed," says the 31-year-old, who signed a minor-league contract with the Mets earlier this month. "It's not a touchy subject; it's nice that people bring it up." Hessman never aspired to hold what some might think is a dubious mark, but, he says, "it's not meaningless, either." It shows that he has kept plugging away at the game he loves since beginning a pro career at 18. Hessman and the Mets are hoping that this is the season he finally puts it all together and provides insurance with pop. Hessman has an invitation to spring training and could compete for a bench job as a backup corner infielder - his primary position is third base - pinch-hitter and sometime outfielder. Hessman will make $15,000 a month in the minors or $425,000 for the season in the majors. "We were attracted to him because he's proven he can hit home runs and we feel he can be an emergency guy off the bench," Mets GM Omar Minaya said. "If he doesn't make the team, he can help (Triple-A) Buffalo and work with younger players." "In the NL, different positions might help me," Hessman said. "David Wright is not going anywhere, I know that. They were looking for some power and that fits my game." Hessman, a product of Orange County, Calif., was picked out of high school by the Braves in the 15th round of the 1996 draft. He reached the majors in 2003 and 2004 with Atlanta, but only hit a combined.167 and struck out 30 times in 90 at-bats. "I was trying to do too much," he recalled. But he came up again with the Tigers in 2007-08 and hit nine home runs in 78 at-bats, including five homers in 27 at-bats in '08. For as many homers Hessman has hit in the minors, he's not close to the all-time record, which is held by Hector Espino, a superstar in the Mexican League beginning the 1960s. Espino, dubbed "The Babe Ruth of Mexico," hit 484 homers, said Steve Densa, the director of media relations for Minor League Baseball. Hessman may not have had sustained success at the game's highest level - one thing that has curtailed more chances are his 1,825 strikeouts in the minors, the most by an active player. But Hessman knows he's in the right profession. He won a bronze medal with the 2008 U.S. Olympic baseball team and yearns to perhaps manage one day. Last year, he got a taste when Larry Parrish, the manager of Detroit's Triple-A team, let Hessman pilot the season finale. "It's more than filling out a piece of paper," Hessman said. "Baseball is the only thing I've ever done and I'm going to stick with it as long as I can," Hessman added. "I know it doesn't last forever. I've had former teammates call me after they quit, a year after they are in a 9-to-5 job, and they say they shouldn't have left. There are times you get frustrated and think you've had enough, but this is a pretty good gig." Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/01/31/2010-01-31_meet_crash_davis.html#ixzz0eJ3x4rR7

Here is how espn reported the trade, look for Omar's comments LAS VEGAS -- The New York Mets overhauled their much-maligned bullpen with two big moves Wednesday, obtaining J.J. Putz from Seattle as part of a three-team, 12-player trade that gives them a set-up man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez. Hours after completing a $37 million, three-year contract with Rodriguez, New York dealt seven players -- six to the Mariners and one to Cleveland -- to get three back in a huge swap at the winter meetings. "All I kept on hearing in the streets of New York when you go get bagels in the morning was, 'Omar, please address the bullpen,'" Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "Well, to all you Mets fans, we've addressed the bullpen." New York shipped reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez, lefty Jason Vargas and three minor leaguers to the Mariners for Putz, center fielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green in the first trade by new Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik. Promising outfielder Franklin Gutierrez was sent from the Indians to Seattle. Cleveland got reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and 23-year-old second baseman Luis Valbuena from the Mariners. "It helps all of us," Zduriencik said. An All-Star in 2007 when he saved 40 games, Putz was 6-5 with a 3.88 ERA and 15 saves in 23 chances last season when he missed long stretches with rib cage and elbow injuries. But Minaya wasn't concerned about the pitcher's health, saying New York had a scout at his final game of the season and Putz maintained a 98-99 mph velocity. "It's about winning championships," Minaya said. "I've always said it's about the team and putting teams first and going for that ring. To win, you've got to sacrifice yourself." Before the trade was announced, Putz's agent, Craig Landis, said the right-hander wanted to remain a closer. But Minaya said he spoke with Putz, who was excited about his new team and role. "It's a new challenge and I'm excited about it," Putz said, according to the Seattle Times. "I'm going to a new team that's going to be very competitive. Frankie's a great closer and with Sean Green going as well, we should have a great bullpen." The Indians had been interested in acquiring Putz before nearing a two-year contract with free-agent closer Kerry Wood, who needed to take a physical before that deal could be finalized. Once the Indians closed in on Wood, the three-team trade came together quickly. "We dealt from an area of depth," Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro said, referring to his club's young outfielders. The key to the deal for Seattle was Gutierrez, who batted .248 with eight homers and 41 RBIs. A skilled defender, he played right field in Cleveland because the Indians have All-Star Grady Sizemore in center. "That's one of the things that we wanted to do is make our defense stronger," Zduriencik said. "I think it's helped us shore up our prospect status." Zduriencik said it was uncertain who would close for Seattle and too early to determine what role Heilman would have. Heilman was inconsistent in his set-up role with the Mets and would prefer to be a starter. He was 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA last season and was among the bullpen culprits as New York folded in September for the second straight season. When Billy Wagner got hurt, the rest of the relievers struggled as they tried to adjust to different roles. "We've proven that sometimes, unfortunately, one closer is not enough," Minaya said. Smith, a submarine-style right-hander who gets plenty of grounders, was 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA. "Joe Smith clearly goes right in the major league bullpen as a guy we've had long-term interest in," Shapiro said. "A different look, complements our 'pen well. We think he can be an important part of the back end of a 'pen." The three minor leaguers New York sent to Seattle were first baseman Mike Carp, right-hander Maikel Cleto and outfielder Ezequiel Carrera. Putz will earn $5.3 million next season, and the Mets inherit an $8.9 million option for 2010 with a $1 million buyout. New York had 29 blown saves in 72 chances this year, and its 4.25 bullpen ERA ranked 13th in the NL. "To get one closer like Frankie would have been a good winter. I think to get two guys like this is a great winter," Minaya said.

Putz was just never happy with the trade, being the 8th inning guy wasn't for him , didn't get his juices going .If what he says is true then it just made a bat fit worse form the get go.

Interesting article , the third paragraph drags it down though. Why ruin a decent article with silly logic?

Doesn't the stadium announcer chap read out the slogan when he announces " your NY Mets" as they take the field? "The Team , the Time , your NY Mets"... Not sure how he'll work in this slogan though.

The Marlins one is funny because they don't even want to be there.

Found a site that has the 2010 slogans for some of the teams, I guess some are slower than others at getting them u. Angels � Fan Strong Astros � 45th Anniversary A�s � 100% Athletics. 100% Baseball. Braves � The Excitement of Turner Field Dodgers � This is my town. Dodgertown USA (They announced it would be back for 2010) Giants � Your Giants Indians � Are You In the Tribe? Marlins � It�s Where You Wanna Be! Nationals � Get Your Red On. NatsTown Orioles � This is Birdland Pirates � Pride. Passion. Pittsburgh Pirates. Tigers � Always a Tiger Twins � Inaugural Season 2010 White Sox � There are Traditions. And There are White Sox Traditions. http://rjsfro.com/2010/01/08/padres-new-marketing-campaign/

Thet lost 95 It's funny when they feel the need to tell you what the sloagan means Rockies- "GenRation" (The R is the Rockies logo)

The Pirates " We Will " is classic..how many games did they lose that season?...

A quick search on google brings back this from a WhiteSox forum.....team slogans from the 2006 season Royals- "Your Team. Your Town." Astros- "Believe the Buzz!" A's- "A Different Brand of Baseball" Cardinals- "Welcome to Baseball Heaven- Inagural Season 2006" D-Rays- "We Come To PLAY" Dodgers- "Think Blue" D-backs- "A New Brand of Baseball" (The A is the D'backs logo) Giants- "Your SF Giants" Mets- "The Team. The Time." Padres- "On A Mission" Phillies- "Red Means Go" Rangers- "Every Day Is Game Day" Pirates- "We Will" Reds- "The POWER of Tradition" Rockies- "GenRation" (The R is the Rockies logo) Tigers- "Who's Your Tiger?" Twins- "Twins Territory" Mets "The Team , The Time" No idea if those are correct but they sure are funny...the Mets one sounds familiar Padres for 2010 apparently have this "SD stands for San Diego"

But ,do you believe in comebacks Kase?